Surrendered property

1.1    Property surrendered to the Legislative Protective Service (LPS) will be processed in accordance with established Service procedures. No employee of the LPS shall claim property that has come into their possession during the performance of their duties with the LPS.

1.2    Officers are not permitted to hold or store surrendered property outside of the assigned storage area for any reason. 

2.1    Legislative Precinct – has the same meaning as in the Legislative Assembly Act, RSO, 1990, c L.10.

2.2    Officers – refers to both Peace Officers (POs) and Protective Service Officers (PSOs) of the LPS. Where a directive refers only to Peace Officers or only to Protective Service Officers, the full title or abbreviation will be used.

2.3    Prohibited items - Prohibited items include:

• any bag larger than 61.5 cm x 41 cm (24" x 16")
• firearms, including ammunition or replica guns
• disabling chemicals, including aerosol weapons
• flammable, toxic, or explosive materials
• sharp objects, including razors, box cutters, knives of any size (except those worn for ceremonial or religious reasons such as a kirpan)
• tools, including all hammers, screwdrivers, drills, saws, or crowbars, unless carried by an approved contractor
• club-like items, including martial arts weapons or devices, sports equipment
• illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia
• miscellaneous items, including slingshots, gas masks, electric stun guns (Taser)
• banners, placards, or any other item of demonstration
• materials with political or offensive slogans, including clothing
• transport devices not needed for accessibility

2.4    Property Officer – for the purposes of this policy, shall be a designated Peace Officer who holds the rank of Sergeant or Staff Sergeant.

2.5    Supervisor – refers to both Sergeants and PSO Leads, as well as the senior command staff (PSO Supervisors, Staff Sergeants, Inspector/Operations Manager, and Director) of the Legislative Protective Service and the Sergeant-at-Arms.

2.6    Surrendered property – items voluntarily turned over or placed in the prohibited items bins in the Visitor Screening Centre (VSC), by the owner of the property, with the knowledge that the property will not be returned to them and will be otherwise disposed of by the LPS.

3.1    When an Officer identifies a prohibited item to be surrendered into the prohibited items bin, the Officer shall:

a)    notify the owner that the item is prohibited;

b)    provide the owner with the option to:

i.    surrender the item into the prohibited items bin; 

ii.    exit the building to secure the item in a location outside of the Legislative Building; or

iii.    exit the building with the item and not re-enter.

Once an owner decides to surrender an item, the owner shall place the item in the prohibited items bin.

3.2    Where a visitor indicates that they will secure or store the item outside but then fails to secure it (e.g., places the item under a bush or in a trash can on the Precinct grounds), the visitor no longer has claim to that item and it may be disposed of as trash. The item shall not be moved to the prohibited items bin or collected as found property. If the Officer feels that the item presents a potential safety hazard, they may opt to dispose of the item in a trash can in the VSC.

3.3    Once an item has been surrendered to the prohibited items bin, the Officer shall complete an Incident Report identifying:

a)    the identity of the owner (if required);

b)    a description of the item;

c)    the date and time; and

d)     all other pertinent details.

3.4    After completion of the Incident Report, the Officer shall fill in the columns A-E of the property room inventory log (OPS-006-01), indicating the following:

a)    the date the item was surrendered;

b)    that the property has been surrendered;

c)    the associated Incident Report number;

d)    a description of the item; and

e)    the Officer who authored the Incident Report.

3.5    Items are to be removed from the prohibited items bin every week, except where a Property Officer is not available, in which case the prohibited items bin shall be emptied upon availability of a Property Officer. 

4.1    During Chamber entry screening, individuals found in possession of items that are permitted in the building but are prohibited in the Chamber (e.g., phone), shall be directed to return to the Assembly coat check, located in room B37, to check the item before returning to be screened.

5.1    Officer-in-charge of prohibited items is the Property Officer with the rank of Sergeant or higher.

5.2    Items surrendered to the prohibited items bins are to be entered into the property room inventory log (OPS-006-01), identified as surrendered property, and placed into the property room.

5.3    The key for the prohibited items bins is to be kept in a secure location with access restricted to the Property Officer(s).

5.4    Two personnel are to be involved in emptying and logging the items: a Property Officer and an assigned Peace Officer. The Visitor’s Screening Centre must be empty during removal of surrendered items from the prohibited items bins.

5.5    During transportation to the property vault, all items are to be placed in the designated box or an opaque container.

5.6    All property surrendered to the prohibited items bins in the Visitor Screening Centre shall be processed as follows:

Upon emptying the prohibited items receptacles, the Property Officer shall:

a)    note the date at which the item was moved from the surrendered property bin into the property room on the property room inventory log (OPS-006-01); and

b)    securely place property into the designated location in the property room.

5.7    While transferring items to the property room, the Property Officer shall make note of any variances or discrepancies in the reported vs. actual number of items found within the surrendered items bin.

6.1    Individuals may request return of items surrendered to the prohibited items bin by completing the Return of Surrendered Property Request Form (OPS-006-02).This form must be submitted within 7 days of surrendering the item. Submission of the form does not guarantee that the item will be returned.

6.2    Requests for return of items surrendered to the prohibited items bin shall be granted only in exceptional circumstances and shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Inspector/Operations Manager.

6.3    Where return of a prohibited item is granted, the individual will either arrange to pick up the item in person with the Property Officer or will provide the information required to ship the item back via registered mail.

6.4    Unclaimed items will be disposed of as follows:

a)    Property Officer will coordinate with appropriate disposal facilities to arrange drop off or pick up of items to be disposed of;

b)    the property room inventory log (OPS-006-01) shall be updated with the final disposition date;

c)    an Incident Report is to be created by the Property Officer indicating final disposition date and procedure for all surrendered items since the previous report.

7.1    Surrendered Property Inventory Log (OPS-006-01)

7.2    Request of Surrendered Property Request Form (OPS-006-02)